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In 2013, a strawberry variety ‘Altaking’ was derived as an artificial cross between ‘12-S-4’ (with high firmness) and ‘Ssanta’ (with high sugar content). Seedling and line selections were conducted from 2013-2015. Preliminary and advanced yield trials of ‘13-S-6-3,’ which was the final selected line, were conducted from 2015-2017. The general characteristics of ‘Altaking’ include upright growth habit, elliptical leaves, and strong vigorous growth. The fruit is long, conical, and light-red in color. The average number of flowers per flower cluster was 12.1, which could reduce the labor required for fruit thinning. This variety is suitable in forcing culture because of its early flower-bud differentiation (September 1), early first harvest (mid of November), and continuous formation of the next flower cluster. ‘Altaking’ has adequate characteristics for exportation because the sugar content rises in the early stages of color development. Although ‘Altaking’ and ‘Seolhyang’ have similar sugar content, the former is less sour, thus making it taste sweeter. ‘Altaking’ has a unique flavor and it smells like peach. The fruit weighs approximately 35.1 g, and it should be harvested at 80% coloration to intensify its deep flavor. In 2019, ‘Altaking’ was registered with the Korea Seed and Variety Service (KSVS) for plant variety protection (Registration No. 7854). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSAS) is characterized by repeated apnea, hypopnea, and micro-arousals during sleep. Among various treatment modalities of OSAS, continuous positive airway pressure(CPAP) treatment is the most effective and successful. The aim of this study was to compare efficacy and safety of newly developed Korean CPAP with standard CPAP in OSAS patients. Materials and Method: In total, 20 of 26 recruited OSAS patients completed the study. All subjects first used the standard CPAP for 4 weeks. After an at least 2 week wash-out period, the subjects used the newly developed CPAP for 4 weeks. Polysomnography, questionnaires associated with sleep, lipid profile, pulmonary function test, cardiac marker, and physical examinations were evaluated at baseline and were followed-up after each treatment. Results: After treatment with the newly developed CPAP, the apnea-hypopnea index was decreased from 53.2/hr to 2.5/hr and was equivalent to that of the standard CPAP. Most of the changes in questionnaire scores, laboratory findings, and physical examinations after newly developed CPAP treatment were equivalent to those with standard CPAP. No serious adverse events were observed during the study. Conclusion: The efficacy and safety of a newly developed CPAP are equivalent to those of standard CPAP in OSAS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by repeated apnea, hypopnea, and micro-arousals during sleep. Many studies have described correlations between OSA and multiple systemic diseases, such as cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and metabolic diseases. The aim of this study was to determine whether the compliance of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) affects the short-term systemic responses in OSA patients. Methods: Twenty-four newly diagnosed OSA patients were enrolled. All subjects used CPAP for 4 weeks. The subjects were divided into two groups according to the rate of using CPAP over 4 hours per night. Complete blood cell count, coagulation results, blood chemistry, lipid profiles, and pulmonary function results were evaluated at baseline, and were followed up after 4 weeks. Results: After CPAP treatment, WBC count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, albumin, AST, ALT, Cl, and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) were significantly changed in the higher compliance group (n=14), whereas platelet count and triglyceride levels were significantly changed in the lower compliance group (n=10). In multivariate analysis, the changes in WBC count, hemoglobin and hematocrit were statistically significant between the higher compliance and lower compliance groups (p=0.0056, 0.0016, and 0.0051). Conclusion: The compliance of CPAP affects the short-term systemic responses in OSA patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endoscopic surgery has developed dramatically in the last few decades in otorhinolaryngology - head and neck surgery. Conventional sinus surgery with an external approach has been replaced by endoscopic sinus surgery, with endoscopic surgical techniques applied on structures of the sinus, including the nasal septum, orbit, and skull base. Endoscopic ear surgery was introduced with diagnostic methods initially, and has transformed surgical concepts in recent years. Endoscopic upper airway surgery was popularized in the 1970s, and its applications have been extended while minimizing morbidity. Endoscopic thyroidectomy is currently performed in some patients with large benign thyroid tumors or micropapillary carcinomas. The applications of endoscopic surgery will be extended to other parts of otorhinolaryngology - head and neck surgery in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical features of neonatal seizures and to identify prognostic factors of neurodevelopmental outcome in term infants who experienced clinical seizures. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 153full term and preterm infants with seizures from January 2008 to December 2013. Binary logistic regression analysis was applied to assess risk factors associated with neurological adverse outcomes using variables that were found to be significant on univariate analysis. Results: During the study period, 102 (66.7%) term and 51 (33.3%) preterminfants were enrolled. The main cause of neonatal seizures was hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (24.5%) in term infants and intracranial hemorrhage (74.5%) in preterm infants. The most common type of seizure was focal clonic seizure. Generalized tonic seizure was more commonly observed in preterm than in term infants. 39 out of 56 term infants with at least 12 months of neurologic followup showed normal outcomes while only one preterm infant showed normal development. Prognostic factors related to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in term infants were perinatal history of fetal distress, etiology of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, severity of EEG(Electroencephalogram) abnormality, evidence of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy on brain magnetic resonance imaging, and the need for multiple antiepileptic drugs for seizure control. Conclusion: Preterm infants showed poorer neurodevelopmental outcomes compared to term infants. The etiology of seizures, treatment response, neuroimaging and electroencephalographic findings were important in predicting the developmental outcome in term infants with seizures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean cultivars with genetically low levels of stachyose enhance the utilization of soybean in food as well as feed uses. The objective of this research is to obtain the information on indirection selection of soybean lines with low stachyose content using DNA marker based on RS2 (rs2) gene. Two genetic populations were developed from the crosses of three parents (116-13 parent : low stachyose content, PI417227 and PI506903 parents: normal stachyose content). Twenty F2 plants of RS2_ genotype and twenty F2 plants of rs2rs2 genotype from each populations were harvested. Content of stachyose was detected by HPLC. Stachyose contents (g/kg) of 116-13, PI417227, PI506903 parents were 3.7, 23.7, and 17.8, respectively. In population 1, stachyose content 20 F2 plants with RS2_ genotype was 14.8 - 24.1 and stachyose content 20 F2 plants with rs2rs2 genotype was 2.1 - 4.7. In population 2, stachyose content 20 F2 plants with RS2_ genotype was 12.4 - 19.7 and stachyose content 20 F2 plants with rs2rs2 genotype was 2.1 - 5.0. Mean difference between RS2_ genotype and rs2rs2 genotype in population 1 and 2 was highly significant. From this results, selection of genetic lines with low stachyose content by DNA marker based on RS2 (rs2) gene will be possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]